From Toddlers to Teens: Managing Disney with All Ages
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If you have followed any of our posts we are a family that really loves going to Disney World. We have been to Disney a number of times and feel like we are becoming ‘Disney Masters’. One of the things a lot of people ask is how can you enjoy Disney with so many kids. We have 4 girls, aged 6 to 16. We have been going since our oldest was 3 so we have had a lot of experience. I am not going to lie to you, taking multiple kids to Disney is a walk in the park it is A LOT! But I hope this post will help you to feel more comfortable to brave the Disney chaos will multiple kids!
Planning
My first tip for any trip whether it is with kids or not is PLANNING. And that is the same here. Going on any trip with your kids is a lot- there is a lot to think about. But ensuring that you have done the planning can help the trip go a lot smoother. Unless you are going to Disney for a special event like Christmas or Halloween then choose a quieter time to go. If you are able to take your kids out of school for the trip that can be a less busy time.
What we have found when traveling with our 4 kids with a range of ages is that you have to find a way to cater to all of them.
I don’t recommend going to Disney World for a week and going to the parks every single day. That will not go well for anyone, and the adults will end up really frustrated. Talk to your kids about the trip. What are they most looking forward to, and make sure that you are able to fit that in. Sometimes our kids could care less about the parks and just want to go down the waterslide all day. Be prepared for this and make sure there is a lot of time for swimming.
It is really fun to do a rope drop once on your trip and get to the parks nice and early. But this is not necessary every single day.
Get the Disney App and get familiar with the parks, attractions and dining that you want to try. The wait times are posted in the app as well so you can monitor which rides are busier and at what times of the day.
A Double Stoller is a MUST- grab one of these to take with you- https://amzn.to/4rr554T.
Prepare
Have everything that you will need. Whether you might need a stroller for your younger kids or charging banks for your older kids- think of what everyone will need. This is a good portable charging bank https://amzn.to/47lhrTi.
We have talked to our kids before to make sure they know sometimes there will be rides they like and others don’t but that is also true the other way around. There is so much fun scenery to see and explore that it is not always about the rides.
If you are traveling with 2 adults then take the big kids to a bigger ride and have a snack or do some exploring with the younger ones. Each park has a bit of a rest/play area for the kids. Our favorite is by far the dinosaur area in Animal Kingdom. There aren’t a ton of rides for younger kids in AK anyways so take advantage of these fun places.
Check the weather!! If it is going to be hot you have to make sure you have cooling towels- try these https://amzn.to/4nnPuAl and misting fans https://amzn.to/4o2FPAn . It will truly make a huge difference- your kids may end up just spraying themselves all day but at least they will be cool!
Dining
I will absolutely admit that dining is expensive at Disney World. We do generally buy our meals in the parks but we pack snacks in our bag to cut down on wanting to buy food every hour. This does help a bit and gives the kids a burst of energy they may need on those long and possibly hot days. Use the app and find the food you are looking for and order it through the app. It cuts down on time. The kids meals are big enough that 2 kids can eat from one meal no problem. The adults can share too! Everyone does not need their own meal at Disney!!
Final Thoughts Before you Go
If you are on the fence of doing Disney with multiple kids I say- DO IT! With a lot of planning and preparing it can be a magical day for everyone- even the adults. Check out this link to start planning your ultimate Disney Vacation https://expedia.tpk.ro/ijhBy0uc.
For more family travel tip ideas be sure to check out our other posts at Blog – Together We Can Travel.
